New Year, New Start!

by Chellie Mejia

Happy 2012!  We’re just a few days into the new year, which means that I'm still be on track with our New Year’s resolutions.  The standard commitments will of course be in full force with the general public – lose weight, quit smoking, etc. – but I’ve made an effort to make sure that at least a few of my resolutions are business-related this year.  I figure if I’m going to try to make it the “best year ever!”, I might as well start with my business and career.

It’s easy enough for me, since this year my focus will be on the Toronto real estate market, a brand new venture for me, and one that will allow me to start off implementing some of these resolutions as opposed to trying to change existing protocol.

For one thing, I’ve noticed in the last year working for a real estate firm, a lot can be done in the area of green living.  Presentations are printed, contracts are faxed, and recycling bins are overflowing with stacks of loose leaf.  A few decades ago, the average businessperson didn’t really need to consider the environment in their day-to-day business practices.  Now, times have changed, and with the state of the environment now firmly lodged in public consciousness, high environmental standards are not just a best case scenario – they're a birthright.  So, one of my first business purchases was a tablet that my proposals can be saved on, allowing for a greener (and I think more impressive) presentation.  I’ll be using scanning and emailing as opposed to printing and faxing (which I find to be easier for reading and filing anyway), and as much internet/email marketing as possible.

In terms of marketing, I’ll also be taking full advantage of social media marketing tools.  With 93% of family households with three or more people in Ontario having internet access, and 54% of these households connecting with multiple devices, social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. can help to establish my brand and cultivate customer and client relationships.  And with the low cost of social media marketing, why not give it a shot?

With my firm’s existing capabilities, we’ll be focused on developing new products and looking for ways to expand our market reach while exploring new geographic markets.

Finally, as always, I’ll be looking at more ways to focus on the culture of my firm and the happiness of my team.  It’s my conviction that my corporate culture is the most enduring competitive advantage I can have.  The right culture instills loyalty in your best people and attracts more of the same, and it can be as simple as deciding the type of music you’ll play in the office environment, or even changing the way your receptionist answers the phone.  My stylist’s receptionist answers the phone “Good morning gorgeous, how can we help you today?” and that gives off a very different vibe from “Hello, how may I direct your call?”  I want to inspire my team by establishing continuing education initiatives to encourage growth and development.  I want to give them goals to focus on this year – personal and professional – and to present them with challenges that compel them to dream bigger, work harder, and collaborate with each other in innovative and energizing ways.

If I manage to keep these resolutions, 2012 could be my best year yet!  Many wishes for a happy, prosperous, and successful New Year.

Image courtesy of Microsoft Office.